The Commodity Credit Corporation said it's accepting proposals by May 21, 2012, for its 2013 Quality Samples Program (QSP), which is designed to encourage the development and expansion of export markets for U.S. agricultural commodities by assisting U.S. entities in providing commodity samples to potential foreign importers to promote a better understanding and appreciation for the high quality of U.S. agricultural commodities. Participants may seek reimbursement from QSP for the sample purchase price, the cost of transporting the samples domestically to the port of export, and then to the foreign port or point of entry.
The Commodity Credit Corporation announced it's accepting proposals by May 21, 2012, for its 2013 Emerging Markets Program (EMP), which assists U.S. entities in developing, maintaining, or expanding exports of U.S. agricultural commodities and products by funding activities that improve emerging markets’ food and rural business systems, including reducing potential trade barriers in such markets. The EMP is intended primarily to support export market development efforts of the private sector, but EMP resources may also be used to assist public organizations.
The Court of International Trade granted the U.S. Trade Representative’s motion to dismiss a challenge to the 2006 Softwood Lumber Agreement’s provision to distribute $500 million solely to members of the Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports (CFLI). The action was brought by non-CFLI members of the domestic softwood lumber industry.
A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the International Trade Administration posted to U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Web site as of April 19, 2012, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. The messages are available by searching on the listed CBP message number at http://addcvd.cbp.gov.
On April 19, 2012, the Food and Drug Administration posted new and revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:
Hong Lee Trading Inc. of Brooklyn, NY is recalling Peacock Brand Preserved Apricots because it may contain undeclared sulfites, says the Food and Drug Administration. People who have a severe sensitivity to sulfites run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume this product. The recalled Peacock Brand Preserved Apricots come in an un-coded, 300 gram (10.6 oz.), clear, plastic container and was sold nationwide. It is a product of Vietnam.
A representative of Lockheed Martin expressed its interest in building plants in Mexico, at a bilateral meeting with Mexican Secretary of Economy Bruno Ferrari. The Lockheed Martin representative said Mexico’s recent admission as a member of the Wassenaar Arrangement makes it an attractive option to Lockheed Martin for such activities.
Mexico's Diario Oficial of April 20, 2012, lists notices from the Secretary of the Economy as follows:
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) issued a final rule revising its regulations to require the disclosure of the presence of cochineal extract and carmine on the labels of any alcohol beverage product containing one or both of these color additives. The final rule is effective May 16, 2012, but TTB is allowing a one-year transitional period to allow more time for bottlers and importers to exhaust their label stocks. Accordingly, the requirement to disclose the presence of these color additives will become mandatory for products that are removed on or after April 16, 2013.
The International Trade Commission is publishing notices in the April 20, 2012, Federal Register on the following AD/CV injury, Section 337 patent, and other trade proceedings (any notices that warrant a more detailed summary will appear in another ITT article):